Quikwood Basics:
- Quikwood is a two part resin. When mixed together you have about 20 minutes of open time before it begins to cure. It will fully cure in 24 hours.
- Only cut off as much as you need at a time.
- Make sure it is thoroughly mixed together (no swirls of color) or it will not cure.
- Do not wear jewelry especially rings when working with QW.
- Apply Avon Silicone Glove before starting and as needed when working with the QW.
- Use DecoArt Extender to blend QW being careful not to use too much or it will make your QW gummy.
- Before painting wipe surface with baby wipe to remove any oils.
Video on Quikwood Basics:
Sculpting Instructions:
Getting Started with the Beak:
Roll each Styrofoam egg to flatten the one side. The flat edge will be the top of the bird and the front of the bird will be the pointy end.
Large Bird: Mix 1/2″ of QW and roll in to a cone about 2″ long. Place on top front of the egg to form the beak. Begin blending the edges of the cone into the Styrofoam, reshape beak if needed. Since we are going to open beak allow to sit about 10 minutes.
Medium Bird: Mix 3/8″ of QW and roll in to a cone about 1 ½”” long. Follow directions for large bird.
Small Bird: Mix 1/4″ of QW and roll in to a cone about 11/4″ long. Follow directions for large bird.
Tip: Sit egg in lid of QW or an egg box to keep it front getting damage until it cures.
Cutting Beak:
Using exacto knife begin cutting beak from tip to back on one side, then repeat on other side. Use blade of knife to lift the mouth open. Reshape if needed and allow to cure.
Making Tail Feathers:
For the large bird cut ¾” of QW and divide into 3. Lay parchment paper over pattern. Roll clay into a 3” coil with a point on each end. Begin pressing and patting to fill in the pattern. Place a point on the back end of the feather. Move parchment paper and make next two tail feathers beside the first one. Wrap parchment paper with tail feathers around 8 oz. paint bottle (2” diameter) and secure with rubber band or tape. Allow to cure.
For the medium bird cut 5/8” of QW and divide into 3 and roll into a 2 ½” coil. Continue as with large bird feathers.
For the small bird cut ½” of QW and divide into 3 and roll into a 2 ¼” coil. Continue as with large bird feathers.
Making wings:
For the large bird mix up ½” of QW and divide into 2. Divide each piece again into two with one piece being larger than the other. Take the larger part and roll into a pointy cone the size of the larger part of the wing. Lay parchment paper over pattern and press clay to fill pattern. Move parchment paper to the side and roll smaller piece of clay into a pointy cone and press and fill in small feather pattern. Repeat for second set of wings. Wait 5 minutes. Following pattern place smaller feather on top of larger feather. Reverse the pattern for the second wing. Lay wings on book or box and fold down front of wings. When almost cured pick up wings and give them a little bend. Allow to cure.
For the medium bird mix up 3/8” of QW and divide into 2. Continue as with large wings.
For the small bird mix up ¼” of QW and divide into 2. Continue as with large wings.
Adding Bird Eyes:
Mix up ¼’ of QW and divide into 3. The flat side is the top of the bird. Pull off small pieces of clay and press and blend the Styrofoam behind the eyes. Use extender to blend onto existing QW. Continue adding QW until you have used the entire piece. Repeat on the other two birds using one piece for each bird.
Mix up ¼” of QW for the eyes. Pull off 2 equal ¼” balls for small bird, two equal 3/8” balls for medium bird and 2 equal 7/16” balls for the large bird.
Place balls for eyes above the beak and slightly flatten. Using tool or pencil press in center of each eye. Using pointed tool press two small holes above eyes for antennae. Allow to cure.
Adding Legs:
We will be putting the legs on each bird before we stack them together. You will want to make sure that they are venly spaced.
Large bird – We will use the 6” ¼” dowels for the legs. Decide on placement- they should be centered on the body from front to back and evenly spaced from side to side. They are about an inch apart. Mark on Styrofoam were you want to insert them. On the large bird you will want to make sure they also fit into the holes in the cart. Insert into Styrofoam. Mix ½” QW and divide into 2. Make 1 ½” coil and lay around top of leg. Blend edges of clay into Styrofoam. Pat and shape top of leg. Repeat for other leg. Stand bird in cart and allow to cure.
Medium Bird – We will use the 4” 3/16” dowels for the legs. Decide on placement- they should be centered on the body from front to back and evenly spaced from side to side. They are slightly less than an inch apart. Mark on Styrofoam were you want to insert them. Insert into Styrofoam. Mix 3/8” QW and divide into 2. Make 1 1/4” coil and lay around top of leg. Blend edges of clay into Styrofoam. Pat and shape top of leg. Repeat for other leg. Keep checking them to make sure that they are staying the same distance apart while waiting for them to cure.
Small Bird- We will use the 4” 1/8” dowels for the legs. Decide on placement- they should be centered on the body from front to back and evenly spaced from side to side. They are slightly less than an inch apart. Mark on Styrofoam were you want to insert them. Insert into Styrofoam. Mix 1/4” QW and divide into 2. Make 1” coil and lay around top of leg. Blend edges of clay into Styrofoam. Pat and shape top of leg. Repeat for other leg. Keep checking them to make sure that they are staying the same distance apart while waiting for them to cure.
Allow to cure before going to next step.
Attaching Tail:
To add the tail to the large bird mix 1/2″ of QW. Roll in a ball and position at the back of the bird. Blend edges onto the bird. Add the middle tail feather and place in center. Blend QW onto top and bottom of feather. Then add next feather and blend. Repeat for the third feather. The middle feather should be higher than the side feathers. Make any final adjustments. When satisfied with shape of tail, shape the QW the feathers are inserted in, and blend out if needed. Stand bird face down in a cup to keep the tail upright. Allow to cure.
For the medium bird use 3/8” of QW. Follow directions for the large bird.
For the small bird use 1/4” of QW. Follow directions for the large bird.
Adding Wings:
Mix up ¼’ of QW and divide into 3. Pull off small pieces of clay and press and blend the clay behind the wings on each bird.
For the large bird mix up ¼” of QW and divide in 2. Roll into two balls and place on each side where you want the wings. They are a little below the eyes and back from the beak. Blend edges of each ball. Place wings on each ball. The small wing should be on the top. Blend clay to the back of the wing. Position wings the way you want them and blend any excess clay in front of wings out onto the bird. Allow to cure.
For the medium bird mix up 3/16” of QW and follow directions for large bird.
For the large bird mix up 1/8” of QW and follow directions for large bird.
Assembling Birds:
Insert large bird in base. Reverse the direction of the medium bird and align with bottom bird before inserting. The legs should align from the side and front. When happy with placement insert into large bird. Place small bird on the top of medium bird and align before inserting into bird. The small bird should be going the same direction as the large bird. All the birds should align from the front and the side.
Before assembling birds you will want to place a thin layer of QW over any Styrofoam except the area the feet are being inserted. I started with ½” of QW and then mixed a smaller amount until finished.
Insert small bird in top of medium bird and then mix up ¼”QW if you have holes you need to fill otherwise 1/8” of QW. Fill in holes then divide QW in 2. Roll into 1” coil and wrap around the bottom of the leg. Blend onto bird and then up dowel. Allow to cure.
To attach medium bird to large bird mix up 3/16” of QW and divide in 2. Follow directions as above.
To attach large bird to cart mix up 1/4” of QW and divide in 2. Follow directions as above.
Adding Star Feet:
Mix up ½” of QW and pinch between fingers to flatten. Then lay on parchment paper and flatten with the palm of your hand. Using star clay cutters cut two large stars, reroll clay and cut two medium and then reroll clay and cut two small stars. Three of the points will be the toes of the bird. While on parchment paper pinch three points and pull two towards center. Pick up and lay on front of foot. Wrap other two points around the back and blend them up the leg. Reposition toes if needed. Repeat until all toes are completed.
Finishing:
Cut ¼” of QW and roll into a ball. Insert pointy tool to make hole in ball (bead). Reshape if needed. Allow to cure.
Place bead on end of wire. Drill small hole in front of cart to insert other end of wire into cart.